Wendy Verity, second from left, at North Battleford city council's meeting Monday. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

NB council

City looks at proposal for second “Community Safety Perception Survey”

Nov 29, 2022 | 4:32 AM

The City of North Battleford is considering a proposal to have a new Community Safety Perception Survey done in 2023, a follow-up to the first survey conducted in 2018.

Wendy Verity, who will be involved in the initiative, spoke as a delegation on behalf of herself and her associates during city council’s meeting Monday, proposing a second survey be rolled out in the fall of 2023.

For the second survey, Dr. Tarah Hodgkinson would partner with Dr. Daniel Fuller, associate professor in the Dept. of Community Health and Epidemiology at the University of Saskatchewan (U of S), and Verity, a Battleford resident and second year PhD student in the Dept. of Community Health and Epidemiology at U of S. They will investigate how perceptions of crime, neighbourhood and social disorder or victimization may impact the health, wellness and physical activity patterns of North Battleford residents.

The proposal indicated the estimated $25,000 cost of the project would be covered through research funds. It suggests the city could possibly provide in-kind support through promotion, printing costs, and maybe offer some leisure facility passes as an incentive for participants.

Verity said it would benefit the city to have residents complete a new survey. The proposal notes the city has made considerable revitalization efforts since the first survey was done five years ago. There have also been advances in reconciliation efforts since then.

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A report was released on the findings of the first survey in 2019.

Verity said it was anticipated when the first survey was done, there would be a second survey later.

“The whole point of the 2018 survey was not only to give council information on the perceptions of safety at the time, but to use that as a baseline for future measures,” she said. “So, then another wave [survey] would help gather that information.”

The second survey will also touch on the aspect of health as well as safety.

“This time, survey questions will also explore public health measures related to crime, victimization, and overall health of North Battleford residents,” the report read.

Some city councillors expressed an interest in having a second survey done.

“I think it’s a really exciting next step,” said Coun. Kent Lindgren.

Coun. Kelli Hawtin was also supportive of the proposal.

“I welcome the project,” she said. “I think it’s great to have somebody local here working on a project. That’s a huge help for us.”

City Manager Randy Patrick said administration will bring a resolution to the next council meeting so council has an opportunity to formally vote on the proposal, “so we have something for the record.”

“There will be some resources from the city, so we want to make sure that’s approved by council,” he said.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow